New Delhi: Delhi police initiated a probe Wednesday on complaints by two students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who alleged that a group of inebriated men entered the campus and tried to kidnap them the previous night.
Two cases were registered in this regard at the Vasant Kunj police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 354 (molestation) and IPC 363 (Kidnapping and abduction), among others.
According to the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU), the students were returning to their hostel around 1 am Wednesday when a group of inebriated men entered the campus in a white car and allegedly tried to kidnap them.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C. told ThePrint, “In both cases, the accused and the vehicle are the same and have been identified. Further investigation is on.”
While the JNUSU claimed that four individuals have been arrested so far, the Delhi police are yet to issue an official statement confirming that arrests have been made.
Later in the day, the JNU administration issued a statement in which it urged students to be more alert and promised strict action against those responsible for the incident. “It (JNU) reiterates its resolve to make the campus zero tolerant towards any form of violence and remains committed towards providing a safe and secure environment to all residents,” it read.
Maintaining that “various steps” have been taken to improve security on campus, the administration said the “safety and fearless movement of women” is its top priority and that all stakeholders must “remain vigilant”.
Meanwhile, the JNUSU organised a series of agitation marches on campus throughout Wednesday. Members of the students’ union first marched to the Vice Chancellor’s office at around 11 am, demanding ‘immediate identification and arrest of the culprits who assaulted and tried to kidnap students inside the campus’.
A second protest march was held on campus at around 5:30 pm in the evening.
Condemning the incident, the JNU wing of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) too came out in support of the students and demanded the resignation of the chief security officer (CSO).
“JNU campus in Delhi has long been hailed as one of the safest places for women in the city. However, recent incidents have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the security measures in place. We demand an immediate resignation of the incompetent CSO,” ABVP said in a statement.
Students of the central university further alleged that over the past few years, incidents of harassment and stalking involving women students have increased on campus.
In January last year, a woman PhD student at JNU was allegedly dragged, forcibly undressed, and molested by an unknown assailant. Two months later, in March, an FIR was registered on a complaint by another woman student who accused a senior of molestation.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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